Paulina Quintao – Only 49 of the 288 sexual abuse cases involving children registered with the organization Legal Assistance for Women and Children (AlFeLa) have been resolved with a final decision in court.
ALFeLa gave legal assistance to 288 minors but only 49 of the cases have been resolved through a final decision in court. ALFeLa Director Marcelina Correia said sometimes the decisions were good and in accordance with the law.
"For example, in an incest case recently in Lospalos the Baucau District Court gave a penalty of 16 years, which is a big penalty, as he committed incest against his two daughters, and another incest case also received 16 years," said Director Correia in Vila Verde, Dili.
But she said sometimes the decisions were inadequate as the decisions depended on the evidence they had.
ALFeLa gave assistance to a total of 288 victims from 2008 to July 2013, including eight cases in Aileu, 17 cases in Ainaro and 33 in Baucau.
From the total number of cases, 27 are still registered with the Public Prosecutor because they don't have strong evidence and other cases were closed because the victim was mentally ill or the accused died.
Apart from this, they also gave assistance to victims of gender-based violence and accompanied victims who defended themselves in court.
"We also have two friends who have received qualifications at the Judicial Training Centre, so now we can litigate in court when victims defend themselves, we have a duty to give them assistance," she said.
On the other hand, the Coordinator of the Women's Communication Forum Timor-Leste (FOKUPERS) shelter home Judith Ribeiro said from 2007 to 2012 they gave assistance and refuge to 84 underage victims of sexual violence and incest.
She said based on the cases, many victims came from Ermera and LIquica and were brought to the shelter home by partners like JSMP, ALFeLa, the police, local leaders or the victims themselves.
Meanwhile, Senior Project Officer for Justice and Wellbeing Issues Capriano das Neves acknowledged that sexual violence happens to young girls but said there was no organized data on it because civil society pays little attention to children's issues.
She said several children living at the shelter home were there because the perpetrators of the sexual abuse were in their family.
"While monitoring in remote areas we identified some cases where an economic situation turned them into victims of sexual and physical abuse," she said. She said sexual abuse against minors happened most in Oe-Cusse, Viqueque, Alieu, Ermera and other districts.